Dehumidification door panel

ABSTRACT

A panel, having means for supporting a dehumidification unit thereon, is releasably secured within a freight container adjacent one of the rear doors. The panel substantially corresponds in size to a container rear door and includes sealing means around the periphery thereof to define a closed compartment within the container. The panel is equipped with lifting means to facilitate transporting of the panel and with a locking jack to maintain the panel in a fixed position within the container.

United States Patent [72] Inventor [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Bert A. Bodenheimer Stamford, Conn. [21] AppLNo. 881,248 [22] Filed 2,664,219 12/1953 Schmidt Dec. 1, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 5, 1971 [73] Assignee SeaJand Servicelnu 3,057,284 10/1962 Learmont................. Elizabeth, NJ. Primary ExaminerJames C. Mitchell Attorney-David Rabin I ABSTRACT: A panel, having means for supporting a dehumidification unit thereon, is releasably secured within a freight PANEL container adjacent one of the rear doors. The panel substan' g tially corresponds in size to a container rear door and includes [52] US. sealing means around the periphery thereof to define a closed compartment within the container. The panel is equipped with lifting means to facilitate transporting of the panel and with a locking jack to maintain the panel in a fixed position within the container.

511 A24f25/00 312 31, 31.1,31.0l;220/l.5;269/1;98/6,7,87;34/90 [50] Field of Search...

PATENTED 0m 5:971 3,610,715

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PATENTEDUCT Si n sum 2 0r 2 FIG.4

INVENTOR. BERT A. BODENHEI MER DEIIUMIDIFICATION DOOR PANEL BACKGROUND, BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to freight containers and more particularly to a lightweight dehumidification panel assembly adapted to be installed within a container to protect cargo subject to damage from excessive moisture.

The rapid change of atmospheric conditions from warn and humid climates to cold climates may cause considerable condensation to form within a container when changes in temperature occur. The amount of condensation is critical when the container is loaded with high-density materials or with products which are adversely affected by moisture. Moisture sensitive products such as cocoa beans and coffee beans give off moisture to the surrounding air as they are transported to colder climates in addition to the moisture present in the air at the origin point of the shipment. Previously, cargo of this type has been transported in containers with open doors thus subjecting the cargo to damage from rain, freezing temperatures, etc.

In view of the growing use of freight containers adapted to be transferred between marine vessels and land vehicles for successive movement by land and water, the present invention is directed to the dehumidification system for protecting cargo that is particularly sensitive to condensation damage.

The relatively lightweight dehumidification system includes a panel assembly that can be releasably secured in a fixed position within a container adjacent one of the rear doors. Preferably the panel assembly is locked in the opening normally occupied by the curbside rear door, in a manner to define a closed container. The curbside door is sufficiently ajar to permit an electrical power cord and a drain line, extending from a dehumidification unit mounted on the panel assembly, to pass therethrough.

The panel assembly includes means around the periphery thereof to facilitate locking of the panel in position and to seal the panel within the opening normally occupied by the rear door. Receptacles on the panel are adapted to receive a dehumidification unit and a length of electrical power cord. In order to facilitate installation and handling of the panel assembly, normally closed openings are provided to permit a forklift vehicle to maneuver the panel assembly into and out of position.

One of the primary objects of the invention is a system for permitting goods subject to moisture damage to be shipped within standard freight containers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a dehumidification assembly adapted to be releasably secured within a freight container without modification to the container.

A further object of the invention is a lightweight dehumidification assembly adapted to be readily secured to a container in a sealed manner.

Still another object of the invention is a dehumidification assembly adapted to be conveniently maneuvered and installed within a standard container with minimum expense.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art during the course of the following description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the panel assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the panel assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a portion of a standard freight container illustrating the rear opening doors;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of a freight container having the curbside rear door slightly ajar and illustrating the panel assembly secured within the door opening;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the container with'the panel assembly positioned therein and illustrating a rear door in broken line configuration;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view illustrating the manner of sealing the panel to the container curbside wall;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the panel assembly illustrating the pivotable closures for facilitating maneuvering of the assembly;

FIG. 8 is a schematic side elevational view of the panel assembly illustrating the manner in which the panel is trans ported by a forklift vehicle;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the control panel for the dehumidification unit; and

FIG. 10 is a view taken along line Iii-10 of FIG. 1 illustrating the manner in which the control panel is positioned on the panel assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawing, reference numeral 20 designates the panel assembly including a generally rectangular panel 22 having a boxlike enclosure 24 for receiving and supporting a dehumidification unit therein, and a vertically disposed boxlike receptacle 26 for storing an electrical power cord which is connected to the unit. The receptacle 26 for storing the power cord consists of a rear wall member 28 mounted in spaced parallel relation with panel 22 by sidewalls 30, 32 and top and bottom walls 34, 36. Oppositely disposed hook member 38, 38 are secured to the rear wall member 28 for supporting approximately feet of electrical power cord, not shown. The exhaust from the dehumidification unit mounted in the enclosure 24 passes through an opening in the front side of panel 22 which is covered by a rain shield 40.

Pilot lights 44, 46 and a three-position toggle switch 48, for controlling operation of a dehumidification unit are mounted on a control panel 42. The control panel 42 is secured to the sidewall 32 of receptacle 26 and recessed within an opening 50. Preferably, the unit is provided with a bypass vent which will permit the unit to perform as a fan only.

The panel 22 is releasably secured within a freight container 52 by a plurality of locking brackets. As shown by FIGS. 4 and 6, the edge of the panel adjacent the curbside container wall 54-is secured to an angled container channel section 56 by oppositely disposed brackets 58 which engage the angled sides of the channel section 56. The brackets 58are secured to opposite sides of the panel 22 by fasteners 60. A seal member 62 has its opposite ends clamped between the panel 22 and brackets58 and abuts against a flat portion of the channel section 56. The lower edge of the panel 22 is provided with a seal member 64, FIGS. 2 and 5 which extends across the width thereof and overlaps the container step plate 66. The seal member is attached to plate 68 which, in turn, is secured to the forward edge of panel 22. The upper and left edge portions of the panel 22, as shown in FIG. 1, are provided with seal members 70 and 72, respectively. Seal member 70 is attached directly to the forward edge of panel 22 for abutting the upper rail 74 extending between the cargo cornerpost 76 above the rear doors 78 and 80, FIG. 3, while seal member 72 is secured to a plate 82 extending normally with respect to panel 22 and abuts the inner edge portions of the door 78. A safety lock 84, FIG. 5, secured adjacent the upper edge of the panel 22, has an offset flange 86 for preventing rearward displacement of the panel into the container. The safety lock may be slideably displaceable within a bracket member 88.

The panel assembly 20 is designed to self-seal" itself adequately when placed in the container rear door opening so as to be equally tight as the door seals.

A loading jack 90, provided with friction member 94 at the opposite ends thereof and secured to the panel by members 92, releasably secures the panel in position within the container. The jack 90 displaces members 94 relative to each other in a conventional manner to wedgingly engage the floor and top wall of the container.

In order to facilitate transporting of the panel assembly 20 to a container 52 and maneuvering the panel assembly into position, spaced openings 96, 96 have been furnished in the panel 22 to receive the lifting members 98 of a forklift vehicle 100, as shown by FIG. 8. Door members 102 having seals 104, 106 at the ends thereof are pivotably mounted in the openings 96 by rods 108. Plates 110 and straps 112, secured to the doors 102 for rotation therewith as shown by FIG. '7, limit rotation of the doors in clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

Alternatively, the pivoted doors 102, rods 108, plates 1141 and straps 112 could be eliminated by providing inwardly directed, sealed, boxlike configurations, which define inwardly directed pockets, opening to the exterior portions of panel 22 for receiving lifting members 98 of forklift vehicle 100. The boxlike configurations would provide a means to lift and transport the panel, and would prevent possible damage by lifting members 98 to cargo stored within the container.

FIG. 4 of the drawing illustrates a panel assembly 20 located within container 52. The rear curbside door 80 is maintained in a partially opened condition by a door stay 114 to permit connection of the electrical power cord to a source of power, and to allow the dehumidification unit to drain outside of the container. When the door stay is not in an operational position between the panel 22 and door 80, it is attached to the panel by a chain 116. A doorstop 118, having a spring loaded plunger 120, is fixed to the forward portion of the panel 22 adjacent the normally fixed door 78 to limit movement of the door 80 toward the closed position.

The container 52 may be of a conventional type having castings 122 and sockets 124 at the ends of cornerpost 76 to facilitate transferring of the container between shipboard and land vehicles and also to facilitate stacking of the containers in superposed relation above deck or within a ships hold.

In operation, a panel assembly with a dehumidifier unit attached is installed in a container loaded with cargo subject to sweat damage. The assembly is normally installed at a receiving yard with the aid of a forklift truck. The curbside rear door is sufficiently ajar to permit the power cord, normally stored in receptacle 26 on hooks 38, to extend therethrough for connection to a source of electrical power. For movement of the container from the receiving yard to the ship, the cord would be placed inside the container on hooks 38. The rear door need not be closed for this operation. Once aboard ship the cord would be reconnected to a power source. At the destination port, and just prior to delivery, the panel assembly would be removed from the container.

While the panel assembly has been described for use with a dehumidification unit, the panel could be used equally well for mounting a unit which conditions the atmosphere within a container by means of gas or the like.

I claim:

1. A dehumidification assembly adapted to be releasably secured in a fixed position to a conventional transportable container body having at least one door opening comprising; a generally rectangular panel means adapted to be positioned within a container door opening, means for releasably securing said panel means in a fixed position to the container without modification to the container body, means for sealing said panel means to the container body to define a closed compartment, and supporting means on said panel means for mounting a dehumidifier unit thereon.

2. A dehumidification assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said panel means in positioned within the container door opening and generally conforms thereto in size.

3. A dehumidification assembly as defined in claim 1, said means for releasably securing said panel means in a fixed position including a locking jack 4. A dehumidification assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing means includes flexible members extending around the periphery of said panel means for contacting the container body adjacent the door opening.

5. A dehumidification assembly as defined in claim 1, further including means secured to said panel means to limit disglacement of the container door. I

. A dehumidification assembly as defined in claim 1,

further including lifting means on said panel means to said container.

7. A dehumidification assembly as defined in claim 6, said means facilitating positioning of said panel means to the container including normally closed door means adapted to be pivoted to opened positions. 

1. A dehumidification assembly adapted to be releasably secured in a fixed position to a conventional transportable container body having at least one door opening comprising; a generally rectangular panel means adapted to be positioned within a container door opening, means for releasably securing said panel means in a fixed position to the container without modification to the container body, means for sealing said panel means to the container body to define a closed compartment, and supporting means on said panel means for mounting a dehumidifier unit thereon.
 2. A dehumidification assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said panel means in positioned within the container door opening and generally conforms thereto in size.
 3. A dehumidification assembly as defined in claim 1, said means for releasably securing said panel means in a fixed position including a locking jack
 4. A dehumidification assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing means includes flexible members extending around the periphery of said panel means for contacting the container body adjacent the door opening.
 5. A dehumidification assembly as defined in claim 1, further including means secured to said panel means to limit displacement of the container door.
 6. A dehumidification assembly as defined in claim 1, further including lifting means on said panel means to said container.
 7. A dehumidification assembly as defined in claim 6, said means facilitating positioning of said panel means to the container including normally closed door means adapted to be pivoted to opened positions. 